Rana Farhan
Your Wish (Arezooyeh To)
Smokey blue renditions of classic Persian poetry
Persian blues singer Rana Farhan’s new album “Your Wish” combines classic Persian poetry with modern jazz and blues.
“I like this one a lot,”Rana says, “it was fun writing and imagining what it would be like if Rumi and Forough were hangin’ out with Lester Young and Billie Holiday, sharing a bottle of wine!”
Produced by Steven Toub, sessions for “Your Wish” were conducted at New York’s Platora Studios was released on March 20th 2009 (in celebration of the Persian new year - No Rooz). The album comes in standard CD format and will also be available for digital download from iTunes, Amazon.com, CDBaby, and others.
Born in Iran, Rana grew up listening to any albums she could get her hands on, fostering a love for American blues artists like Brownie McGhee, Leadbelly, and Johnny Winter; while rockin’ to Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
Rana left Iran after graduating from Tehran University and she soon found herself in New York City, exploring her talents in lacquer paintings and soaking in the sounds and music of Manhattan, including the rich cultural district of Harlem where she discovered her love of jazz.
In 2005 she teamed with guitarist/ producer Steven Toub for her first full-length CD “The Blues Are Brewin’”, a collection of American jazz and blues standards.
Toub a veteran of New York’s rock and blues scene has recorded at such legendary studio’s as Electric Ladyland and The Power Station as well as performing in opening slots for Squeeze, Robin Trower and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
It was Farhan’s second release “I Return”, a unique fusion of classical Persian poetry with contemporary blues and jazz music that really set the world on fire.
After recording and distributing a track called “Rumi’s Prayer” over the internet, the response from both American and International listeners was overwhelming. With a demand for more, Farhan and Toub, began writing and recording the album working off of both Rumi and Hafez, compiling one of the most sensitive fusions of two distant cultures.
New York audiences, who were already caught up in Rana’s energy, and packing her performances at local clubs, were now joined by sold-out shows at the Cowell Theater in San Francisco and the Glow Bar in Los Angeles.
Rana has been featured on Suzi Khatami’s “Live From Hollywood” KIRN 670 AM Los Angeles, dw-world.de German radio with Shahram Ahadi, “Taraneyeh Nasorudeh” with Farid Vahabi RFI Radio France International, Voice of America radio Farda, Homa Sarshar’s “Khaaneh-ye doost” 670AM Los Angeles, Sholeh Sadr sbs radio from Melbourne Australia, “Saba: Wind of Love” 90.1 FM KKFI Kansas City Radio, "The Upper Room with Joe Kelly" WVOF 88.5 FM in Fairfield CT, “Persian Hour” with Shahrokh Nikfar KYRS 92.3 FM in Spokane Washington, and Buenos Aires’ “Goodtime Blues Show” in Argentina.
She has also appeared on Bebin TV in Los Angeles with Melissa Shoshahi and Voice of America/Persian TV’s Shabahang.
In March, 2008 Rana was recognized for her outstanding contributions in art and music by Radio Zamaneh in Holland commemorating the International Day of Woman.
Now, with "Your Wish", Rana Farhan takes a major musical leap forward. “I worked really hard on this one,” she states. “I’m really excited about this record, and I’m anxious to have people hear it,” Farhan concludes. “People have been waiting for new music from me for awhile, so I look forward to bringing these songs to as many people as I can.”
Jazz: World Fusion